R-353 or "Proton"

is a Russian Spy radio with tubes from the middle of the 60s. It was used by special units (Speznaz) or agents of the whole Warsaw Pact. It was brought to its destination point either by dropping it by parachute or by smuggling it across the border.

The transceiver is built into an aluminium housing. When the lid is closed. it is watertight. It is transported in a canvas bag that contains the radio and the accessories.

Transmitter and receiver are tuned separately, dials are from the projection type. The lid contains accessories, like headset, CW key, high speed CW device via a dial; etc. The CW key is lifted up for operation, it is coupled with the dial that converts numbers into the CW code.
The lid also contains operating instructions on aluminium lids. (For both see the picture gallery)

The lettering is English, to pretend it is a radio of Western origin.

Separated transmitting and receiving antennas are used.

A second housing below the radio contains either an AC PSU or a transistorized DC- DC- converter for battery operation, in this case external silver- zinc- batteries. They are charged by a charger or a handcrank PSU-5M. At extremely low temperatures the batteries can be carried on a belt near the body.

The museum's radio and PSU have the same numbers.
The sparepart box contains many tubes, lamps and fuses.
The radio has a built in tape player for cassette tapes. The tapes are programmed by an external coder.

Accessories in the collection (see picture gallery):

Spare parts box

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Data can be transmitted in three ways :

(1) Using the CW key in the lid [ < click ]

(2) Using the dial in the lid (is parallel to the CW key) [ < click ]

(3) Using the burst coder (To read a tape cassette) [ < click ]

The cassette is programmed using the Coder. [ < click ]

Usage of the burst coder:

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Frequency range:

Receiver 2.98 .. 16.02 MHz in 3 ranges

Transmitter 3.47 .. 16 MHz in 11 ranges

 

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Technical data:

HF output:

50 W

Range:

up to 1500 km

Receiver (3 ranges):

Range 1: 2.98 ... 5.72 MHz

Range 2: 5.68 ... 10.83 MHz

Range 3: 10.78 ... 16.02 MHz

Tubes receiver:

11 x 1SH29B subminiature tubes

Transmitter (11 ranges):

Range 1: 3.47 ... 3.98 MHz

Range 2: 3.98 ... 4.58 MHz

Range 3: 4.58 ... 5.27 MHz

Range 4: 5.27 ... 6.07 MHz

Range 5: 6.07 ... 6.94 MHz

Range 6: 6.94 ... 7.94 MHz

Range 7: 7.94 ... 9.14 MHz

Range 8: 9.14 ... 10.34 MHz

Range 9: 10.34 ... 12.14 MHz

Range 10: 12.14 ... 13.94 MHz

Range 11: 13.94 ... 16.00 MHz

Tubes transmitter:

3 x 1P24B, 6SH32B, GK19

Modes:

A3A (AM), ( only receiving )

A1A (CW)

Powered by:

AC 90 ... 240 V or

12 V DC silver-zinc-batteries

Accessories (not everything in the collection):

miniature headset, CW key, lamps, operating instructons, hand crank generator Typ PSU-5M, telescopic mast, high speed CW burst coder, battery- box -belt, canvas carrying bag.

Antennas:

Transmitter: 2 x 12 m dipole- wire anttenna

receiver: 4 m wire antenna

Measurements and weight:

L x B x H 27 x 33 x 9 cm, 13 Kg

Issued:

abt. 1965